Garbage grinder of the vertical axis rotary hammer type



y 7. 1947- G. R. coss ETAL 2,421,014

GARBAGE GRINDER OF THE VERTICAL AXIS ROTARY HAMMER TYPE Filed Nov. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z Z M N." Am \3 1 a a x 44 H 4 g 3 m m 6 i a l y 1947- G. R. coss ETAL 2, ,014

GARBAGE GRINDER OF THE VERTICAL AXIS ROTARY HAMMER TYPE Filed Nov. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR 5. 6 80279 055,

Patented May 27, 1947 GARBAGE GRINDER OF THE VERTICAL AXI ROTARY HAMMER TYPE George R. Coss and Kemper M. Hammell, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Eureka Williams Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,118

9 Claims.

This invention relates to means adapted to be associated with the drain outlet of a sink for reducing garbage so that the same may be carried by water through a sewer system, such means being commonly referred to as garbage grinders. lk1i=rincipal objects of the invention are to prov e: 1

A new and improved construction for a garbage grinder;

A new and more efficient reducing means for a garbage grinder.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are two sheets, which. by Way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of th invention may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings Fi 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a device embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken generally along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the shredding ring;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the shredding ring taken generally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the shredding ring;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the impellers taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the embodiment oi the invention selected for purposes of illustration, the garbage grinder comprises a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber ill provided at its bottom periphery with axially extending cutting or shredding teeth l2 and a series of slots l4 forming a lateral discharge for the reduced material. a collecting trough l6 surrounding the cutting teeth l2, power driven rotary hammers or impellers la in the bottom of the chamber In for impelllng material a ainst the teeth I: and for expelling reduced material outwardly through the discharge outlet into the trough l6, and a source of power. such as an electric motor 20, for driving the impellers.

The chamber ll) may be provided by a plurality of castings 22, 24 and 26 and a shredding ring 21 in which the teeth l2 are formed. The motor 20 may be bolted to the cup-shaped lower easting member 26 and have its shaft 28 project through a suitable opening in the bottom wall 30 of the chamber ill at the center thereof. The bottom wall 30 at the center may be recessed so as to accommodate a running seal 32 for the shaft 28.

The upper casting member 22 of the chamber ill is formed for attachment to a drain outlet 34 of a sink 36. The casting members 22 and 24 may be frusto-conical in shape so as to form a frusto-conical chamber ill. The meeting edges of the casting members 22 and 24 are separated by gasket members 40, the outer edges of which are lapped over outwardly projecting exterior flanges 42 on the casting members 22 and 24, and an annular contractible channel-shaped clamping ring 44 extends around the chamber l0 and encloses the flanges 42 as covered by the edges of the gaskets 40 so as to clamp the casting members 22 and 24 together.

It will be appreciated that the casting member 24 and the parts associated therewith may be assembled to the casting member 22 after the latter has been assembled to the drain outlet 34 of the sink.

The lower end of the casting 24 projects outwardly from the main cylindrical portion thereof and is shaped to seat upon a complementary shaped part of the casting member 26 and to cooperate therewith so as to form the trough iii. A series of bolts 52 cooperating with tapped and threaded holes in the flanges of the casting member 24 and 26 securely clamp the same together.

Inwardly of the trough IS the casting members 26 and 24 are formed with annular ledges 54 and 56 which provide seats for the cylindrical shredding ring 21, the upper and lower edges of which are arranged on the seats provided by the ledges 54 and 56 so that when the casting parts 24 and 26 are assembled, such shredding rin will be secured in position.

The shredding ring may comprise a ring of tempered spring steel (but not brittle) which is formed to provide a series of vertically extending cutting teeth or cutters l2 which may slope from their base to the top in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the impellers 18. At the base of the teeth and on the level of the bottom 30 of the chamber Ill, the ring is provided with a series of slots I4 which form an outlet through which reduced material from the chamber I0 is impelled by the hammers I8 into the trough Hi. This outlet extends entirely around the periphery of the chamber ill at the bottom thereof and permits the impellers ill to function as a centrifugal pump to project reduced material and liquid outwardly through the slots it into the trough it.

Several of the cutting teeth I! may be offset inwardly about 6 of an inch, as indicated at 60, so as to interrupt the regularity of the inner face of the shredding ring 21 in order to more effectively aid in reducing certain types of materials, such as round bones which might otherwise be pushed around the bottom of the chamber i ahead of the impellers it.

The shaft 28 projects upwardly above the bottom wall ill of the chamber i0 and has aflixed thereto a hub having two oppositely arranged radially extending arms 12. The inner ends of each of the hammers l8 are bifurcated so as to straddle the arm 12, and pins 14 extending through aligned holes in the hammers l8 and the arms I2 provide a pivotal connection therebetween so that the hammers it are free to swing in a. plane normal to the axis of rotation of the hub 10 and the hammers Id. In Fig. 2 the hammers it are illustrated in full line posi tion in their outer or operative position in which they are urged by centrifugal force, while they are illustrated in dotted lines in their retracted or folded position. The hammers is are free to swing between the two positions illustrated. The hammers i8 and arms I2 of the hub are formed so that the hammers 18 cannot swing forwardly ahead of the position in which they are illustrated in Fig. 2. When in their open position the outer ends of the hammers have a slight clearance with the cutting teeth l2 as well as with the inwardly offset teeth Gil. When the hammers are in their folded back position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, they and the hub form a circular mass thereby leaving between each of the hammers when folded back and the cutting teeth l2, a space having a radial distance at least as great as half of that of the chamber H1 at the bottom thereof. In this way the hammers l8 may swing back to a folded or retracted position so as to clear objects such as bones which might become wedged in the bottom of the chamber III and stall the apparatus. As previously indicated. centrifugal force will tend to keep the hammers in their extended position during operation of the device.

The hammers are impellers which function to propel food in the bottom of the chamber i0 into engagement with the cutting teeth I! fo reducing the same, the size of the openings i4 limiting the discharge of material from the chamber ill until the particles thereof are of such size that they may be propelled through the openings H. In order to more effectiveiv impel material into enga ement with the teeth II, the leading edge or face thereof is curved, which also helps such impellers to pass any material which might temporarily be wedged in the bottom of the chamber Ill.

The impellers 18 are provided with agitating elements 80 which project upwardly from the upper surface of the impellers l8 and extend upwardly beyond the tops of the cutting teeth 12. The agitators 80 are stepped projections rising from the upper surface of the impellers i8 which serve to stir and mix the mass of material in the chamber i0 so that the same will effectively feed downwardly for action by the impellers i8. Due to the pivotal mounting of the impellers it, the agitators 80 will occupy various positions between the axis of rotation and their outermost position and, if desired, one of the agitators 80 may be spaced farther from the axis of rotation of the hub 10 than the other. The walls of the chamber ill above the shredding ring 21 may be provided with fluting or teeth 82.

The trough i6 terminates in a coupling member 8 which is adapted to be connected to the sewer system of the house. It is desirable to continuously supply water to the garbage grinder during the operation thereof so as to flush away the material as it is reduced.

The casting member 22 of the chamber Iii defines an inlet for the chamber which communicates with the drain outlet 34 of the sink. This inlet is adapted to be closed by a valve member or closure 9! biased to the position illustrated, which has a universal mounting 92 on an arm 94 fixed to a pivot shaft 98. The arm 94 is spaced from the closure so that the same may rock thereon. A projection 91 and a pair of arms 9! diverging from the end of arm 94 limit the rocking movement of the closure 90 relative to the arm 94. With this arrangement, the closure member 90 will seat against a seal Hill carried by the neck of the casing member 22 and form a seal therewith so as to close the drain opening when arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1. Downward movement of closure 90 permits water and/or garbage to pass from outlet 34 into chamber 10.

Certain subject matter disclosed herein is disclosed and claimed in the prior co-pending application of Kemper M. Hammell, Serial No. 524,- 836, filed March 1, 1944, for Garbage disposal apparatus.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations which fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with cutting teeth having openings therebetween forming a radial discharge outlet for reduced material at the level of the bottom of said chamber, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth and for expelling material outwardly through said discharge outlet, a trough surrounding said teeth and into which said outlet opens, said rotary means comprising a hub of materially less size than the bottom of said chamber and arranged at the center thereof, a plurality of radially extending hammers, each pivotally connected to said hub and adapted to swing in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, at least one of Said hammers having an upwardly projecting agitator, said hub and hammers being constructed and arranged so that said hammers may fold back against said hub in a direction opposite the direction of rotation thereof and leave between said hammers, when folded back, and said cutting teeth, a space having a radial distance of the order of half of that of said chamber at the bottom thereof.

2. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth.

sam rotary means comprising a hub of materially less size than the bottom of said chamber and arranged at the center thereof, a plurality of radially extending hammers, each pivotally connected to said hub and adapted to swing in a. plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, said hub and hammers being formed and arranged so that said hammers may fold back against said hub in a direction opposite the direction of rotation thereof, said hammers having upwardly projecting agitators intermediate the ends thereof.

3. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth, said rotary means comprising a hub of materially less size than the bottom of said chamber and arranged at the center thereof, a plurality of radially extending hammers, each pivotally connected to said hub and adapted to swing in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, said hub and hammer being formed and arranged so that said hammers may fold back against said hub in a direction opposite the direction of rotation thereof, said hammers having upwardly projecting agitators intermediate the ends thereof, one of said agitators being spaced farther from said hub than the other.

4. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth, said rotary means comprising a. hub and a plurality of radially extending hammers, each pivotally connected to said hub and adapted to swing in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, at least one of said hammers having an upwardly projecting agitator extending upwardly beyond the tops of said cutting teeth.

5. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth, said rotary means comprising a hub and a plurality of radially extending hammers, each pivotally connected to said hub and adapted to swing in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, each of said hammers having an upwardly projecting agitator positioned adjacent the swinging end thereof.

6. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth, said rotary means comprising a hub and a plurality of radially extending hammers, each pivotally connected to said hub and adapted to swing in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, each of said hammers having an upwardly projecting agitator, one of said agitators being spaced farther from the axis of rotation of said hub than the other.

7. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical vertically extending chamber provided at its bottom periphery with a circumferential row of axially extending cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, said teeth being formed by deflected portions of a ring in which openings are provided between said teeth to form said outlet, power driven rotary means in the bottom of said chamber for impelling material against said teeth, said rotary means comprising a hub having a plurality of radially extending hammers pivotally connected thereto so as to swing in a plane transversely of the axis of rotation of said hub, certain of said teeth being offset inwardly from the remaining teeth of said row.

8. Garbage disposal apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical chamber provided at its bottom periphery wtih cutting teeth and a discharge outlet for reduced material, power driven rotary means in the bottom of the chamber for impelling material outwardly against said teeth, said rotary means comprising ahub and a hammer pivotally connected to said hub in such a hanner so as to swing in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub, said hammer having an upwardly projecting agitator.

9. Garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said agitator comprises a stepped projection rising from the upper surface of said hammer.

GEORGE R. 0088. KEMPER. M. HAMMELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,012,680 Hammer Aug. 27, 1935 2,166,786 Alexay July 18, 1939 1,614,358 Gandillon Jan. 11, 1927 2,286,520 Tranbarger June 16, 1942 1,067,776 Anderson July 15, 1913 2,288,767 Young July 7, 1942 2,066,621 Gray Jan. 5, 1937 1,083,102 Jackson Dec. 30, 1913 2,220,729 Powers Nov. 5, 1940 2,322,058 Power June 15, 1943 2,286,545 Hoehn June 16, 1942 1,286,757 Patterson Dec. 3, 1918 2,215,226 Meyer Sept. 17, 1940 1,125,137 Liggett Jan, 19, 1915 2,045,690

Armstrong June 30, 1936 

